WHAT FLACS MEAN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 142, 7 February 1916, Page 4

WHAT FLACS MEAN.

From time immemorial Hags have been flown by ships ~i sea all over the world, but it is only in more recent years that ,ut hit'(national Code has been adopted. All the countries of the world now conform to fixed rules about the flying of certain Hag?, though, of course, each navy has its own secret code for use in war time.

The national flag of any ship, when hoisted upside down, denotes that the ship in question is in difficulties and requires immediate assistance, which any pacing ship is required to give,

if possible. The quarantine flag is a pfaln yellow sqt'aie, hoisted on the foremast, which ie'ii'aics th.it the ship has got an infectious disease on board, or that it ha - - ("in: from an infected port. No p r-"'< is allowed citTici to go on boaid o! to leave such a ship until P'Tini" ■••> iv. panted |,y the sanitary

alithoiities »! the port. In ,dl p u's of the world ~ white flag is .ucept'd ••- .1 token of peace, a red flag a- thai "f drliance, and a black Has .is thai of a pii'tto, A gieen flan fl'iim Ironi the masthead of a ship at am 1 i<• i imlii atcs lh.it there i- a wreck in 'lie \i<'nit>. The same is denoted by a green buoy pie. Ed "ver the spot. When a led He;; is flying on the I"iciiio~t it is a sijjn that the ship has powdi r. she)], or ammunition "n b".nd. aid servos a- a warning to other ships not to cine too near in < ase of ,ii i idenK It U failed the danger, or mote commonly, the powder Hag. The pilot flag consists of a I'ni-m Jack with a white binder, one fifth the total width of the flag. When hoisted on tin fun mast it is a sij-n that a piloi is required for navigating the ship in dangerous waters. A uhite-.ind-r -d-llag, equally divided horizontally, with the white on top, is (airird in any part of the ship where it can bo mo-t easily seen to signify thai the ship is under the command of a qualified pilot and not of the usual captain.

A blur flap, wi'b ,i wide while border, hoisted ou the m.iM of ,i vessel in poll. signifies lli.it the Wsscl is about to -ail ,mi] is use,) | ( ) warn apybod) mi shore who intends to j>o on board tli.it st,irtin.n time is near. I; i- called anioni? sailors the "blue Peter."